Device for adjusting blind-slats



(No Model.) 2 sh eetsfsheet 1.

E- I V DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING BLIND SLATS.

No. Patented Sem 21 1886.

WHWESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v E. P. TUGKE. DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING BLIND'SLAIIS.

No. 349,416. 'Pat-ented Sept. 21, 188-6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD P. TUGKE, OF VVHITAKERS, NORTH CAROLIN A.

DEVICE. FOF ADJUSTING BLlND-SLATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349.416, dated September21, 1886.

Application filed August 5, 1886. Serial No. 210,120. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. TUokE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Whitakers, county of Edgecombe, State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Adjusting and Looking Devices for the Slats of Window-Blinds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for adjusting and controlling the opening and closing of the slats of window-blinds from the interior of a room without the necessity of elevating the sash for that purpose, the same consisting, substantially, in the construction,arrangement, and combinations of parts to be hereinafter distinctly described, and pointed out in the claims.

, The objects of the invention will more fully appear from thedescription hereinafter following; but as explanatory of the same, briefly, it may be stated that the invention is applicable to the well-known Venetian or louver blind, wherein the slats are adjustable by means of a vertical rod or bar, to which they are attached by an ordinary staple or link connection. In this class of blinds it is de} sirable to obviate the necessity of raising or elevating the window-sash for the purpose of opening or closing the slats of the blind; and a further desideratumis to enable such slats to be secured to their positions of adjustment against interference from without, this being specially the case when it is desired that they shall be kept closed. By my invention the. slats may be operated from the interior of a room without the necessity of raising the window-sash, and when brought to the required degree of adjustment are locked securely against movement by interference from without.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may understand, I will now proceed to describe the same in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a portion of window-blind embodying my invention, the position of the several parts being as when the slats are in. a closed position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof on the line a: w, the same indicating more clearly the construction of the window-casing, to the side of which is pivoted the operating orhand lever. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View showing the manner in which the hand-lever is pivoted to the side of the casing, and the form of the recess in which such lever works. 4 is a vertical elevation ofa section of windowblind, the position of the parts being as when the slats are open, the dotted lines therein rep Fig.

resenting them as when closed. Fig. 5 is a "horizontal sectional view on the line .2 z, Fig.

4, showing the operation of the catch for maintaining the upper section of slats in an open position independently of the lower section,

and also showing the position assumed by the parts when such sections are opened conj oi ntl y,

and the manner of detaching the hook which connects the vertical rods of the two sections. Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 3, the position of the hand-lever being shown as when the slats are open. Fig. 7 is a detail of the locking-plate for the hand-lever, the same being ated simultaneously to be either opened or closed.

Intheloweredge of therail G the usual slot,

a, is provided, coincident with the rod D, for its reception when elevated to close the slats, separate rods D being employed for each slatsection, as is also customary in this class of blinds.

Secured to the upper end of the lower rod D is a plate, I), to which is pivoted a hook, c, which connects the upper and lower rods D by engaging or fitting upon a stud or pin, (1, in the lower end of the latter, this connection being made between the two rods when it is intended that both sections of slats shall be operated simultaneously.

E represents a pivoted arm, having its bearing on a stud in the side of a plate, 6, which 7 O, the said arm being bifurcated on its outer end, as seen at f, for the reception of the operating hand-lever, while its inner end is formed with a pair of jaws, between which is hinged or pivoted a supplemental arm, F, which in turn connects with the stud or pin 9 on which the hook c is held. Thus it will be seen that when the outer end of the arm E is elevated through the medium of the hand-lever the inner end thereof will be depressed, carrying the supplemental arm with it, and consequently drawing downward upon the rods D and opening the slats. By the reverse movement to this the slats will be closed, as is evident.

In raising and lowering the rods D for opening and closing the slats, such rods describe an eccentric movement outwardly, and in order to accommodate or conform to this I have supplied the hinged supplemental arm F, which, as the rods are lowered, will swing outwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, and when the rods are elevated it will be carried inward, as clearly apparent and shown. The connection between E and F is such that no lost motion is had to the prompt operation thereof on application of the proper force to the hand-lever.

It is sometimes desirable to maintain the upper section of slats open against movement independently of the lower section, which it may be the wish to have closed, and for this purpose I have devised a small plate, h, pivoted to the upper edge of the middle rail, (3,

.and adapted to be swung outward over the top of a stud or projection, i, secured to the side of the upper rod 1) near its lower end, as shown, and it is evident that by detaching the hook c from connection with such rod and then lowering the rod and turning the plate h out over the stud z the upper section of slats will be held to the position thus brought. After this the lower section of slats may be opened or closed and secured at will through the regular operation of the main devices. The inner side of the supplemental arm F is formed or provided with a pin or projection, is, which serves to catch the hook 0 when detached from the upper slat-rod.

Connecting one or the other of the rods D is a spiral or other suitable spring, Z, whose tendency is to exert an upward strain upon such rod, and thus when the blind is open this spring will always maintain the slats in a closed position, for it will be apparent from the construction and arrangement of parts herein shown that when the blind is opened the arm E will be carried away from its engagement with the hand-lever.

For the accommodation of that end of the arm E nearest the window-casing when the blind is closed, I provide a recess, in, in the casing, and pivoted to the side of the latter, at right angles to such arm, is the operating hand-lever Gr, whose outer end enters the bifurcated end of arm E, and it will be seen that as the inner end of such hand-lever is elevated or depressed the slats of the blind will be correspondingly opened or closed. This handlever is pivoted in arecess sunken in the side of the casing, the form of said recess being indicated by the letter a, and it is clear that the movements of such lever will be amply accommodated.

For the purpose of securely locking the slats to the positions to which they may be brought or adjusted, I secure to the front or inner side of the casing a notched plate, H, having an arm, I, which is slightly sprung inward, by which to exert a pressure on the lever sufficient to prevent its slipping sidewise from engagement with the notches, it being evident that the notches themselves will retain the hand-lever against up or down movement or dislodgment when once set or locked. The hand-lever passes between the arm I and notches of the plate, asshown, and is free to be moved on its pivot in the recess a when disengaged from locking connection with the plate.

- From the foregoing description it is thought the operation of my invention will be thoroughly. understood, and it should be here stated that, while I have shown certain construction .and arrangement of the parts constituting my improvements, I do not wish to be limited thereto in precise detail, for the reason that very material changes could be resorted to and still come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the hand-lever pivoted in recess a of the casing, of the notched plate for locking said lever, having the inwardly-sprung arm I, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a Venetian or louver blind, the combination of the arm E, pivoted to the middle rail and bifurcated on its outer end, the hinged supplemental arm connecting said arm with one of the slat-rods, a hook connecting the two slat-rods, a hand-lever engaging the main arm and operated from within, and a notched plate for locking such lever, substantially as described.

3. In a Venetian or louver blind, the combination of plate h, pivoted to the middle rail, and the projection i on the slat-rod, for maintaining the slats of one section in an open position when the other is closed, or vice versa, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDIVARD P. TUGKE.

\Vitnesses:

W. H. BOND, J. O. MOORE. 

